7 Strategies to Get Parents to Complete Permission Slips on Time
Permission slips: the tiny sheets of paper that determine whether a child gets to go on a field trip, participate in an after-school club, or join a school-sponsored event. And yet, in 2025, most schools are still using paper-based permission slips, which inevitably means lost forms, last-minute scrambles, and frustrated teachers chasing down parents.
Meanwhile, nearly everything else in a parent's life—banking, doctor's appointments, grocery shopping—is handled online. So why are schools still relying on crumpled papers stuffed into backpacks? At ClassroomParent, we understand these challenges, as we've been on a mission to reduce the reliance on paper, increase efficiency, and decrease stress when communicating with parents.
If your school is tired of permission slip chaos, here are seven strategies to get parents to complete them on time—without the headache.
Make It Easy for Parents to Complete Permission Slips Electronically
Most parents don't have time to dig through their kid's backpack every night. But they do check their email. A digital permission slip system allows admins to send an email with a direct link, where parents can quickly review and sign off with a few clicks—no printer, no pen, no paper.
- Work on any device (phone, tablet, or computer)
- Require no downloads, logins, or app installations
Provide a Paper Option That Works with the Digital System
Some parents will always prefer paper, and that's fine—as long as paper doesn't mean more work for school staff.
- Automatically adjusts for manual completion, adding blank spaces for parent and student names, a signature line, and return instructions.
- Includes a QR code, so parents who start on paper can quickly jump online and complete the form digitally.
Ensure Permission Slips Are Linked to the Right Group of Students
A smart system should allow admins to assign permission slips to the right groups—whether that's an entire school, a grade level, or a specific class—so that only the relevant parents are notified.
Automate Follow-Up Reminders (So Teachers Don't Have To)
No teacher should have to spend their mornings asking, 'Did you bring your permission slip?' Instead, use a system that can send automatic email reminders to parents who haven't responded yet.
Offer Flexible Payment Options for Fees
Many permission slips involve a fee—a field trip cost, a club membership, or a supply charge. The process needs to be seamless.
- If a parent agrees to pay, they should be immediately taken to a secure online payment page.
- If a parent needs to make offline arrangements (cash, check, or financial aid), the system should allow for a pending payment order, so nothing gets lost in the shuffle.
Make Permission Slip Creation Quick & Reusable
If you're an admin who has ever had to recreate the same form multiple times, you know the pain. A digital system should allow you to easily build a permission slip and duplicate existing slips to save time.
Provide Real-Time Reports on Who's Signed & Who Hasn't
A digital permission slip system should give admins and teachers a real-time report showing which students have completed their permission slips, which parents still need to respond, and who has (and hasn't) paid any required fees.
The Future of Permission Slips Is Digital—Is Your School Ready?
Parents want to handle school tasks online, just like they do everything else. Schools have already moved event sign-ups, communication, and fundraising online—it's time for permission slips to catch up.
By shifting to a digital permission slip system, schools can increase completion rates, reduce admin burden, and ensure fewer students miss out on activities simply because of a lost paper form.